Slug detector for coin-controlled machines



, 1,630,427 y 1927 F. IHEDLEY E AL SLUG DETECTOR FOR COIN CONTROLLED MACHINES Filed May 6. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1,630,427 y 1927' F. HEDLEY ET AL SLUG DETECTOR FOR COIN CONTROLLED MACHINES Filed May a. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 wmum Y lllllllllll Hllllllll Patented May 31, 1927.

UNITED STATE I I 1,630,427 PATET @FFICE.

FRANK HEDLEY, 0F YONKERS, AND JAMES S. DOYLE, 0F MOUNT VERNON, NEW YORK.

SLUG DETECTOR FOR COIN-CONTROLLED MACHINES.

Application filed May 6, 1922. Serial No. 558,974..

This invention relates to means for magnifying the image, and revealing the character of coins, tokens, or slugs, deposited in coin controlled machines.

The object of the invention is to provide means which aresimple in construction and efficient in operation for magnifying the image of and revealing the nature and character of coins deposited in coin controlled machines.

A further object of the invention is to provide a detector device of thecharacter referred to wherein a deposited coin is arrested and retained in arrested position when deposited into a coin controlled appartus in succesive steps of arrest, and in position for the image thereof in both positions of arrest to be revealed through the magnifying lens positioned opposite the point of arrest ofthe deposited coins.

A further object of the invention is to provide means under the control of the deposited coin for actuating the arresting detents into arresting and releasing positions.

Other objects of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter.

The invention consists substantially in the P construction, combination, location and relative arran ement of parts, all as will be more fully hereinafter set forth, as shown in the accompanying drawings, and finally pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings and to the various views and reference signs appearing thereon, I Fig. 1 is a view in elevation showing a slug detector device embodying the principles of our invention applied to one form of coin controlled machine.

Fig. 2 is a view in elevation of the upper end of a coin chute, one side wall thereof being removed, and parts broken ed and parts in section.

Fig. 3 is a view in perspective of the upper end of the coin chute raceway showing the arrangement for operating the coin detents.

Fig. 4: is an edge view of the same.

Fig. 5 is a view in top plan of the construction shown in Fig. l.

Fig. 6 is a view in horizontal section on the llne 6, 6, Fig. 4:, looking in the direction of the arrows.

The same part is designated by the same reference numeral wherever it occurs throughout the several views.

Experience has shown that in the use of coin controlled machines of various kinds unscrupulous persons will attempt to effect the operation of the machines by the deposit of spurious coins, slugs, or the like, in place of the proper coins or tokens. Various attempts have been made to devise coin controlled machines and devices which will eliminate any slug or spurious coin, but efforts in this direction have not proved to be entirely satisfactory, with the result that slugs or coins are found in machines of this character to the great loss of the owners of the machine. lit is among the special pur poses of our present invention to provide means not to eliminate a spurious coin or slug but to reveal to the public or to watchers or spotters the character of the coins, tokens, or slugs deposited, so that their presence may be revealed at the time they are employed to operate the machine, thereby furnishing the proper evidence upon which the depositor may be apprehended and convicted of the fraud, and in any event revealing to others the fraudulent character of the-transaction. In accordance with our chute through which the coins pass successively after being introduced into the machine, and at a convenient point in the chute we propose to provide one or moreopenings in the sides thereof, and to mount in such openings magnifying lenses, and we also propose to provide detents whichoperate in successive steps to retain a deposited coin in proper position with relation to the lenses to be revealed in magnified form therethrough in each of the two successive stages of arrest of the deposited coin.

Referring to the drawings :reference numeral 10 designates a coin chute, into which the coins are deposited through the mouth or opening indicated at 11. Disposed in the chute below the entrance slot or mouth 11 is a pivotally mounted lever 12 having projecting arms 13, 14, projecting into and working within the coin chute, said lever 12 being pivotall mounted as at 15. The arm 13 extends within the chute above the lever or arm 12, and the extremity thereof extends inwardly transversely part way across the chute. The arm 14 of said resent invention we propose to employ a lever extends downwardly below the lever The lever 12 is normally retained in any convenient way, as, for instance, by means of a spring 19, see Fig. 1, in position for the up per arm 13 to be held in a retracted position with reference to the coin chute, and the arm 14: on the opposite side of the pivot 15 of lever 12 in position to extend transversely across the chute to lock the path ofa deposited coin, or to direct an undersized coin laterallythrough an opening 20 in the wall of the'chute 10 into a return cup 21. This normal position of the arms 13, 14, may be adjusted in any suitable or convenient man-' ner. We have shown an adjusting screw 21 for this purpose, this screw being tapped through a side wall of the chute in position to form a back stop for the arm 13. A screw member 22 is tapped through, but insulated fromqthe opposite wall of the chute 10 for the inner point thereoi to cooperate with the shoulder 17 on arm 14: to form a detent to arrest and hold a deposited coin it or the proper size. As indicated at 23, 24, the pin 22 and the pivot 15, constitute terminals of an electric circuit, the space between which is bridged when a coin of the proper size is arrested and retained on the shoulder 17 and the inner end of pin 22. In case a coin of smaller size is introduced through the mouth 11, it will not be arrested by. the shoulder 17 and pin 22, but will be directed by the curved surface 16 outwardly through the opening 20 intothe return cup 21. .At a convenient point in the chute 10 below the lever 12 and its associated arms 13, 14, we arrange another lever 25 and pivotally mount the same as at 26 in the wall or" the chute for the angle arms 27 28, thereof, to extend into the chute 10, and in position for one or the other of said angle arms to receive and form a detent for a deposited coin which has passed from the above described detaining device, according to whether the one angle arm 27 or the other 28, is in proper arresting and retaining position for such coin. The lever 25 may be retained in a normal position for the an le arm 28 to be projected part we. across t e chute in posidiilerent ways.

tion to arrest an posited coin in any suitable or convenient manner. We have shown a spring 29 for this purpose. When the coin is released from the angle arm 28 it is permitted to drop down from the chute into a suitable receiving receptacle, not shown. 7

The levers 12, 25, may be rocked in many We have shown a simple arrangement wherein the longitudinally vertically movable rod 30 is mounted to slide upwardly through suitable guide brackets 31, 32, which may be conveniently attached to the coin chute. This arm is provided with projecting pins 33, 34, arranged respectively to engage said levers 25 and 12 when form a detent for a de- 28 in a direction to withdraw the same as a retaining support for the deposited coin 35. The same rocking movement of lever 25 causes the angle arm 27 to swing or move into the chute to form a detent to arrest the next succeeding coin when deposited, in the first step of arrest of the deposited coin opposite the magnifying lens.

As the rod 30 continues to move upwardly the pin 3 1 will engage lever 12 and rock the same so as to withdraw the arm 14 thereof from supporting relation with respect to a deposited coin and to project the arm 13 across the chute so as toprevent the insertion oi another coin until the previously deposited coin has been released by said lever 12.

As'above indicated, the operation of rod 30 may be effected in many diiierent ways, but we prefer to utilize the deposited coins for controlling the movement of said rod. To this end we arrange a magnet indicated at 36 in the circuit, of which pivot 15 and screw member 22 constitute terminals, so that when a coin is arrested between the shoulder 17 and pin 22, the magnet 36 will be energized, thereby actuating a plunger rod37 arranged to engage a crank arm 38 on a shaft 39 rocking said shaft. 2 Upon this shaft is mounted a crank arm 40, the end of which, when rocked, engages beneath an arm 41 which is connected to rod 30, raising said arm and rod therewith.

In the side walls, one or both, of the chute, opposite the points where the coins are arrested by the angle arms 27, 28, are the magnifying lenses 42. These lenses may be detachably mounted in openings in the side walls of the chute in any suitable or convenient manner. We have shown merely retaining rings 43, see Fig. 6, for this purpose. If desired, the adjacent sections or portions 44 of the chute may be made transparent.

I The operation of the apparatus is exceedingly simple. The coin is deposited through the mouth 11 into the chute, and if of too small a size it will simply drop down and be deflected by the curved surface 16 laterally through the opening 20 of the side wall into which may have been arrested and retained in its second stage of detention bythe angle arm 28 of said lever, and at the same time bringing into position the angle arm 27 of said lever to arrest and form a retaining detent for the next succeeding coin to reach that point in the chute. The continued upward movement of rod 30 causes lever 12 to be rocked, thereby projecting the arm 13 thereof transversely across the chute to prevent the entrance therethrough of another coin through the mouth 11. At the same time the arm 14 is withdrawn, thereby releasing the previously deposited coin from the shoulder 17 and point of terminal screw 22 permitting the coin thus released to drop down into position to be received upon the detaining support afforded by angle arm 27. The coin remains detained in this position and opposite the magnifying lens until the lever 25 is returned or restored to its initial position, thereby revealing in magnified form the image of the detained coin. The moment the coin is released from shoulder 17 and terminal screw22 the circuit of magnet 36 is opened, and hence the rod 30 is returned orrestored to its lower position.

This causes the levers 12 and 25 to be re stored to their normal positions, thereby withdrawing arm 13 of lever 12 from its blocking position with relation to the chute, andprojecting arm 14; thereof into normal position to form a temporary arrest for the next succeeding deposited coin. The rocking movement of lever 25, while being re- "stored to its normal position, withdraws angle arm 27 from detaining relation with respect tothepreviously deposited coin and brings the angle arm 28 into position to form a second detent or arrest for said coin, still retaining the same in proper position for the enlarged and magnified image thereof to be revealed through the magnifying lens. The coin remains in its second stage of arrest until another coin is introduced into the machine, and when finally released from the angle arm 28 the coin will continue its movement down the chute and eventually drops into the receptacle arranged to re.- ceive the same.

It will be understood that our detector device may be used on any type or structure of slot machine, and, as above explained, the function is not to attempt to eliminate a slug or spurious coin but to reveal and keep on view the coin or slug until another coin or slug is introduced into the machine, thereby disclosing to observers or others the character of the deposited coin or slug, and enabling the identification of the depositor thereof to be established and the offender apprehended for the perpetrated.

fraud. .7

. Having now set forth the ob ects and nature of our invention, and a construction embodying the principles thereof, what we claim as new and useful and of our own invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,

1. In a slug detector for coin controlled machines, a coin chute having openings in the sides thereof, magnifying lenses, and ring members arranged to engage and retain the same in said opening, a coin detent mounted in said ring member arranged to operate in said chute opposite said lenses to arrest and retain a deposited coin, and means for releasing said detent.

2. In a slug detector for coin controlled machines, a coin chute in combination with forked spaced apart coin detentsoperating into said coin chute to arrest and temporarily detain the coin in arrested position, and

means to display to the exterior of the coin chute the magnified image of the deposited coins when retained in arrested positions by one of said detents.

3.1m a slug detector for coin controlled machines, a coin chute having openings therein, coin detents arranged in said openings and extending into said chute to arrest the coin in successive stages, and means to reveal to the exterior of the chute the magnified image of the coin when in its arrested position one of said detents being adopted to guide undersized coins out of said chute.

4. In a slug detector for coin controlled machines, a coin chute having openings in a side thereof, a magnifying lens mounted opposite one of said openings, a lever having angle arms arranged to be projected into said chute through one of said openings, said angle arms forming successive detents for arresting a deposited coin, and means for operating said lever and another lever mounted opposite another opening and adapted to guide undersized coins out of said chute.

5. In a slug detector for coin controlled machines, a coin chute, a magnifying lens mounted in the side thereof, movably mounted detents operating in said chute, one of said detents being mounted opposite said lens, and the other detent being spaced apart from said lens, and means controlled by a deposited coin for actuating said detents said second detent being shaped so as to eject undersized coins from said chute.

6. In a slug detector for coin controlled machines, a coin chute, a magnifying lens mounted in the side thereof, a pair of movable forked detents arranged to extend into said chute,- one of said detents being mounted opposite said lens, and operating to suecessively arrest a deposited coin and finally release the same, and means whereby when one of said detents is in operative position the other is withdrawn.

7. Tn a slug detector for coin controlled machines, a coin chute, magnifying lenses 'mounted in the skies thereof, a lever mounted opposlte the lenses hevlng angle arms arranged to be projected into said chute be tween said lenses to form successively operating detents for a, deposited coin m; a point opposite said. magnifying "len to expose both sides ef the 'eein a, magnet for rocking saifl lever, and means controllmi by a deposited coin for completing the circuit of said magnet. I 10 In testimony whereof We have hereunto set our hands on this 2d day of May, A. D. 1922.

' FRfiQ-IK I-IEDLEY.

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